Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): The first person for whom lots were cast was Maryam (daughter of Imran) (peace be upon her), and this is the saying of Allah the Mighty and Majestic: "You were not with them when they were casting their pens [for the drawing of lots] to see which of them would take charge of and be the guardian of Maryam. Nor were you present [when the scholars of Bani Israel, for the honour of guardianship over her,] were disputing with one another" (Al-Imran/44), and the number of lots was six. The next was Yunus (peace be upon him), for when he boarded the ship with those people and the ship stood still in the depths, they cast lots and three times it fell in the name of Yunus (peace be upon him). Yunus (peace be upon him) went to the front of the ship, and while that fish had opened its mouth, he threw himself into the water. The next was Abd al-Muttalib (peace be upon him), for nine sons were born to him and he vowed that if Allah would grant him a tenth son, he would sacrifice him. When Abdullah (peace be upon him) was born, he could not slaughter him, because the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) was in his loins. So he brought ten camels and cast lots between them and Abdullah (peace be upon him). The lot fell on Abdullah (peace be upon him). He added ten more camels, and still the lot fell on Abdullah (peace be upon him), and he kept adding ten more. When they reached one hundred, the lot fell on the camels. Abd al-Muttalib (peace be upon him) said: "I have not fulfilled the right of my Lord." He cast the lot three more times, and all three times it fell on the camels. Then he said: "Now I know that my Lord is pleased," and then he slaughtered them.